Cover versions that improved on the original

[Kala]

Cover versions are a staple in music, sometimes they’re an abomination, but sometimes they are even better than the original version. Which covers do you think fall into this category?

For me this is one of my most obvious ones:



Compared to the original:



The original was so sickly sweet and MOR but VotB really brought it screaming into the 90s. I was so obsessed with their version back in the day, and it should have done much better than #25 in the UK charts, but then they are one of the most underrated bands of all time.

The original made #18, but the most successful version was by Kaci in 2001 2002, who scraped into the top 10 with her version which was fun, but sounds so dated now.



What are your favourite cover versions? Post the cover and original so we don’t have to go searching.

 

[ZenGiraffe]

 

[RJN]

 

[ZenGiraffe]

 

[syl]

"Ain't That Just The Way" - Lutricia McNeal (cover), Barbi Bention (original)

"Killing Me Softly" - Roberta Flack (cover), Lori Lieberman (original)

"Midnight Train To Georgia" - Gladys Knight & The Pips (cover), Cissy Houston (original)

 

[VoR]

 

[ButterTart]

Yes to all three.

 

[ButterTart]

There's not really one specific original as such, but this is very much the definitive reading:

 

[ZenGiraffe]

 

[ButterTart]

The song so good it launched the masterclass in diminishing returns that was the trance covers of 80s songs era.

 

[RaspberrySwirl]

 

[Ellie]

 

[ZenGiraffe]

The song so good it launched the masterclass in diminishing returns that was the trance covers of 80s songs era.

 

[ButterTart]

God, that album was just the same song fourteen times and every second of it was a masterpiece.

 

[Alex]

 

[RJN]

God, that album was just the same song fourteen times and every second of it was a masterpiece.

That album was my childhood I used to listen to it all on repeat

 

[RJN]

In fact I still do often

 

[Saltwater]

 

[ButterTart]

In fact I still do often

Can confirm that, fifteen years later, Bad Boy still both slaps and fucks.

 

[VoR]

 

[straightorbroken]

And the unforgettable bored-porn-stars "live" "performance":

 

[Saltwater]

 

[Saltwater]

 

[VoR]

 

[Saltwater]

 

[Saltwater]

 

[straightorbroken]

 

[Diddy]

Not so manic now was a cover?

 

[Vicky the Vole]

...and 'Always on my mind'.

 

[straightorbroken]

Not so manic now was a cover?

 

[Vicky the Vole]

 

[ManicKangaroo]

Not so manic now was a cover?

News to me too

 

[jyxz]

With extra bonus points for the yo-yo

 

[SystemAddict]

Tell me why the HELL you're STALKING
You're DISMISSED
Now, get to WALKING



Original:

 

[Alex]

 

[jyxz]

 

[GinAg (39)]

Not so manic now was a cover?

Apparently so

 

[VoR]

Sinead improves a lot of the songs she covers. Nothing Compares is obvious, but this is gorgeous too. Also she manages to not sing it as ‘Sack-uh-ri-fice’ the way Elton does.

 

[octophone]

 

[Peekaboo]

As much as I LOVE many songs in this thread to say they "improve" on the original is a bit inaccurate I think. Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd is a SONG AND A HALF and Scissor Sisters spun a cover that takes it into an incredible new place, but it doesn't really BETTER it.

I think the sign of a good cover is when it produces something new that wasn't there in the original thanks to the person/band doing the cover. I'm a big fan of Annie Lennox and No Doubt and both their covers listed here are FANTASTIC, but the originals, in their own way, are also TOWERING SONGS.